Sleep problems...again?!?!?!?!?!

My LO had MAJOR stomach and food allergy problems until he was 15 mo old...so he didn't sleep well at all, was on medications and it was the hardest time of my life. I soothed him to sleep every day and night and I didn't mind, I knew he didn't feel well. Then, like magic, we settled into a beautiful routine, he slept through the night and took 2 naps a day. Well, we added a new sibling to our family 2 months ago, and he has been doing great with him. We started to transition to 1 nap a day...that was hit or miss...but this week-BAM! No more going to sleep on his own. He stands in his crib, crying, screaming, staring at the door. I don't think he has separation anxiety issues, because he does well during the day. I checked his molars and I don't feel anything coming through. He is perfectly happy during the day, so I don't suspect a cold or allergies...but we just gave in after 2 hours of modified CIO tonight, and no naps today...this has been going on for the last couple days and I do not want to get into some bad habits here...anyone else dealing with this? any ideas?

My LO had MAJOR stomach and food allergy problems until he was 15 mo old...so he didn't sleep well at all, was on medications and it was the hardest time of my life. I soothed him to sleep every day and night and I didn't mind, I knew he didn't feel well. Then, like magic, we settled into a beautiful routine, he slept through the night and took 2 naps a day. Well, we added a new sibling to our family 2 months ago, and he has been doing great with him. We started to transition to 1 nap a day...that was hit or miss...but this week-BAM! No more going to sleep on his own. He stands in his crib, crying, screaming, staring at the door. I don't think he has separation anxiety issues, because he does well during the day. I checked his molars and I don't feel anything coming through. He is perfectly happy during the day, so I don't suspect a cold or allergies...but we just gave in after 2 hours of modified CIO tonight, and no naps today...this has been going on for the last couple days and I do not want to get into some bad habits here...anyone else dealing with this? any ideas?

CIO had worked for me in the past. Then DD cried so long and so hard one night that she actually caused herself to vomit. Because we were doing CIO again, we didn't realize this had happened until morning ..... ew, yuck, and the smell was absolutely horrid! The poor kid laid in her own vomit half the night. Boy, did I feel like a complete jerk. We discovered, through the dr's recommondation, that she just wanted to know someone was there and that she wasn't alone. So, here's what worked: Start out sitting beside the bed for a night or two, then gradually work your way out of the room, a foot or two at a time, until you're out of the room and out of sight. You can talk to LO the first couple nights, and you can (repeatedly) lay LO back down, but don't cuddle. No talking after the first couple nights either. I honestly couldn't believe it worked as well as it did. I was amazed. Good Luck.

CIO had worked for me in the past. Then DD cried so long and so hard one night that she actually caused herself to vomit. Because we were doing CIO again, we didn't realize this had happened until morning ..... ew, yuck, and the smell was absolutely horrid! The poor kid laid in her own vomit half the night. Boy, did I feel like a complete jerk. We discovered, through the dr's recommondation, that she just wanted to know someone was there and that she wasn't alone. So, here's what worked: Start out sitting beside the bed for a night or two, then gradually work your way out of the room, a foot or two at a time, until you're out of the room and out of sight. You can talk to LO the first couple nights, and you can (repeatedly) lay LO back down, but don't cuddle. No talking after the first couple nights either. I honestly couldn't believe it worked as well as it did. I was amazed. Good Luck.

no problem. I hope it works for you like it did for me.There were several nights that I'm sure I fell asleep on DD's floor before she fell asleep. I'd wake up 1/2hour or an hour later, get up, and leave the room. Plan on spending some time in there each night/nap time. LO won't fall asleep in just a couple minutes. It might take 15-30. And this was SO much better than listening to her cry. I can do CIO, but I can feel my pulse in every part of my body until she stops crying. Again, GOOD LUCK.

no problem. I hope it works for you like it did for me.There were several nights that I'm sure I fell asleep on DD's floor before she fell asleep. I'd wake up 1/2hour or an hour later, get up, and leave the room. Plan on spending some time in there each night/nap time. LO won't fall asleep in just a couple minutes. It might take 15-30. And this was SO much better than listening to her cry. I can do CIO, but I can feel my pulse in every part of my body until she stops crying. Again, GOOD LUCK.

oh yeah, and just to make sure I was clear enough, when I said to move back a foot or two at a time, I didn't mean by the end of the first night to be out of the room. Start out right beside the bed/crib for a night or two. then a couple feet away for a night or two. then against the wall. then in the doorway. Then with only your feet in the doorway. It might also help if your LO has a "lovey" that they only get to snuggle with in bed. My DD never really had a lovey until after we started this method. I think it helped her. But, the lovey idea isn't something that you can force on LO. If they want it, they will pick their own lovey.

:D

oh yeah, and just to make sure I was clear enough, when I said to move back a foot or two at a time, I didn't mean by the end of the first night to be out of the room. Start out right beside the bed/crib for a night or two. then a couple feet away for a night or two. then against the wall. then in the doorway. Then with only your feet in the doorway. It might also help if your LO has a "lovey" that they only get to snuggle with in bed. My DD never really had a lovey until after we started this method. I think it helped her. But, the lovey idea isn't something that you can force on LO. If they want it, they will pick their own lovey.

thank you! how long did you let the crying go on for nap time? did she fall asleep for a nap or did you finally have to get her out of her crib? it is just so crazy to me-i can see how tired he is, he is falling asleep on my lap and when i lay him down, he jumps up and stands in his crib facing the door-resting his head on the rail!! i keep him up there for an hour at nap time and he is just so persistant! no sleep!

thank you! how long did you let the crying go on for nap time? did she fall asleep for a nap or did you finally have to get her out of her crib? it is just so crazy to me-i can see how tired he is, he is falling asleep on my lap and when i lay him down, he jumps up and stands in his crib facing the door-resting his head on the rail!! i keep him up there for an hour at nap time and he is just so persistant! no sleep!

at first it would take 15-45 min - at nap time and at night. Just keep laying him down when he stands up. Make sure you don't become frustrated - always lay him down gently and lovingly. After the first few days - when she realized she was going to have to go to sleep- I quit laying her down. Usually she would just sit for a little while, really quiet, and then lay down, awake, for another 5-10 minutes before falling asleep. Once I started this method I did NOT get her out of the crib.

I really thought she would cry the entire time because she could see me but I wasn't picking her up - not the case. after maybe the first 5 days, she would lay down, calm, eyes open, and just look at me for about 10 minutes, eyelids getting heavier and heavier, until she fell asleep.

We had some setbacks - a short vacation in the middle of this sleep training- so back to square one during vacation, and back to square two when we got home again. Total time spent on this, before I could just lay her down awake at nap and bed time and leave the room immediately, is probably close to a month. If we wouldn't have had that vacation, I would bet it would have been more like 3 weeks. But it's totally worth it!

at first it would take 15-45 min - at nap time and at night. Just keep laying him down when he stands up. Make sure you don't become frustrated - always lay him down gently and lovingly. After the first few days - when she realized she was going to have to go to sleep- I quit laying her down. Usually she would just sit for a little while, really quiet, and then lay down, awake, for another 5-10 minutes before falling asleep. Once I started this method I did NOT get her out of the crib.

I really thought she would cry the entire time because she could see me but I wasn't picking her up - not the case. after maybe the first 5 days, she would lay down, calm, eyes open, and just look at me for about 10 minutes, eyelids getting heavier and heavier, until she fell asleep.

We had some setbacks - a short vacation in the middle of this sleep training- so back to square one during vacation, and back to square two when we got home again. Total time spent on this, before I could just lay her down awake at nap and bed time and leave the room immediately, is probably close to a month. If we wouldn't have had that vacation, I would bet it would have been more like 3 weeks. But it's totally worth it!

Hi! Thanks for checking in! So, his behavior was just so bizarre...it was like he was scared of his bed or something??? I converted his crib to a toddler bed and that worked for a couple days (with me on the floor next to the bed). It wasn't separation anxiety, because he fell asleep in my room by himself no problem (and he has NEVER slept in my bed-except for when he was a newborn)...so I have been keeping at it and it is definitely much better, we have had a couple set backs and naps have become something else too-instead of our routine of reading he needs to be exhausted and passed out because he won't sit with me to read and relax...I feel like I am experiencing the terrible 2s already with him...he has become a "fighter" with everything we do...so I just pray for patience everyday and wait for all this craziness to pass (although, his personality is very energetic and intense-I know this now that I have another baby and wow are they different!)anyway! sorry for the long response, but it has definitely help A LOT-we are still working on it! thank you so so so much for the input!

Hi! Thanks for checking in! So, his behavior was just so bizarre...it was like he was scared of his bed or something??? I converted his crib to a toddler bed and that worked for a couple days (with me on the floor next to the bed). It wasn't separation anxiety, because he fell asleep in my room by himself no problem (and he has NEVER slept in my bed-except for when he was a newborn)...so I have been keeping at it and it is definitely much better, we have had a couple set backs and naps have become something else too-instead of our routine of reading he needs to be exhausted and passed out because he won't sit with me to read and relax...I feel like I am experiencing the terrible 2s already with him...he has become a "fighter" with everything we do...so I just pray for patience everyday and wait for all this craziness to pass (although, his personality is very energetic and intense-I know this now that I have another baby and wow are they different!)anyway! sorry for the long response, but it has definitely help A LOT-we are still working on it! thank you so so so much for the input!

The material on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, or in place of therapy or medical care. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy

Advertising Notice

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here